Series 8 string

[guyzo]

This sure looks like the 8 I bought used at the Hollywood guitar center back around 1986-7, had it a couple years and then sold it(like an idiot!)

[BeenDown139]

had it a couple years and then sold it(like an idiot!)

i'd need add another room to the house to hold all the basses that have passed through my hands that i've said this about.

looks like it's still for sale.  still trying to resist the siren call.  got a tax refund, (another) covid-19 check and all kinds of well-paying side work coming up in the next coupla months.  Hmmmm....hot tub or 8-string bass that i really don't need?  decisions, decisions...

[ducatidoc]

You know you'll hate yourself if you don't. 

[mario_farufyno]

I used to say that if I ever needed a 8 string Bass I could simply use an octave up pedal... not at all, this is totally different beast (and, what a monster)!

[gearhed289]

I used to say that if I ever needed a 8 string Bass I could simply use an octave up pedal... not at all, this is totally different beast (and, what a monster)!

Yeah, quite different than a pedal. 8 strings have a certain quality to them. I've owned 3, currently a Ric 4003S/8 that is a simply amazing instrument.

[hieronymous]

I used to say that if I ever needed a 8 string Bass I could simply use an octave up pedal... not at all, this is totally different beast (and, what a monster)!

Yeah, quite different than a pedal. 8 strings have a certain quality to them. I've owned 3, currently a Ric 4003S/8 that is a simply amazing instrument.

My Rickenbacker 8-string helps keep my GAS in check whenever an Alembic 8-string comes up for sale - maybe the only thing!

[mario_farufyno]

There is something so cool in this alongated head...

[DaveD]

Well, friends...I went to check her out and she followed me home. Excellent condition, one owner, from 1981. Apparently it had been sitting on the rack at Chuck Levin's near DC for a few years and then was sold to the previous owner in 1983. He clearly babied it. I've always wanted an early 80s Series bass and this is a gorgeous specimen. Everything appears in great shape.


Only thing that seems a little odd is that the brass block has a 2 different sized holes which allows the nut on the underside of the bridge on the G string side to be lowered all the way. Seems odd so I started a thread on the Troubleshooting page to get some insight.

[rv_bass]

Wow, congratulations, that’s a cool bass! 

[edwardofhuncote]

Interesting; the earlier channel-type bridge seen on an '81. I suppose to accomodate the paired courses of strings and intonate separately. Or possibly just for more clearance? Maybe just an old-stock bridge assembly, couldn't be too many 8-strings laying around. Hard to say.


Congratulations & Compliments. I have a 1980 Series bass that came through Chuck Levin's place, though second-hand in the early 90's. Cool place!

[BeenDown139]

sure glad that someone else picked this up.  i was seriously considering doing something foolish with my descretionary funds and if it had sat around much longer i would've made a play for it.
but it wouldn't have stopped with the bass.  next I'd need a stereo pre-amp.  then a stereo power amp.  and then... 🤯

[DaveD]

Here she is, playing "Nobody's Fault But Mine":

[rv_bass]

Wow, that sounds really cool! 

[mario_farufyno]

Oh man, if I hadn't enough basses to dream about...